Investors in Toronto seemed to ignore all the static from south of the border Friday, and bid their main stock index higher on both the day and the week, based on the strength of tech and consumer issues.
The TSX gained 62.46 points to end Friday’s session at 20,693.15. On the week, the index gained 113 points, or 0.55%.
The Canadian dollar eased back 0.29 cents to 73.88 cents U.S.
Tech superstars included Shopify, stronger by $1.44, or 2.2%, to $65.99, while Constellation Software triumphed $41.64, or 1.6%, to $2,648.97.
In consumer staples, the stock to watch was North West Company, climbing 70 cents, or 1.8%, to $39.61, while Maple Leaf Foods improved 48 cents, or 1.8%, to $27.78.
Industrials also fared well, as Richelieu Hardware jumped 79 cents, or 2%, to $40.02, while Russel Metals hiked 59 cents, or 1.8%, to $34.04.
Materials and gold led the side down, as First Quantum Minerals sagged $2.01, or 6%, to $31.71, while Hudbay Minerals let go of 28 cents, or 3.9%, to $6.89.
Equinox Gold dropped 15 cents, or 2.2%, to $6.76, while Iamgold fell eight cents, or 2%, to $3.88.
In health-care, Tilray shed four cents, or 1.3%, to $3.13, while Chartwell Retirement Residences eased four cents to $8.90.
On the economic calendar, Statistics Canada reported retail sales decreased 0.2% to $66.3 billion in February. Sales decreased in four of nine subsectors and were led by decreases at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (-5.0%) and general merchandise retailers (-1.6%).
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange eased back 1.29 points to 614.20, making for a weekly fall of 21.85 points, or 3.44%.
Eight of the 12 TSX subgroups remained positive throughout the session, led by information technology, up 1.3%, consumer staples, ahead 1.2%, and industrials, better by 0.7%
The four laggards were weighed most by materials, off 1%, health-care, down 0.5%, and gold, duller by 0.7%.
ON WALLSTREET
The Dow Jones Industrial Average hovered near the flatline Friday afternoon, and headed for a weekly loss as investors evaluated a week’s worth of earnings results and concerns of disappointing profits.
The 30-stock index managed to scratch out gains of 22.34 points to end the week at 33,808.96.
The S&P 500 moved higher 3.73 points to 4,133.52.
The NASDAQ forged higher 12.9 points to 12,072.46.
All major indices are on pace to finish the week in the red, with the Dow and the S&P 500 on track for their worst weekly performances since March. The tech-heavy NASDAQ has seen the biggest declines, down 0.3%. The Dow’s lost 0.2%, while the S&P is on track to finish 0.03% lower.
Elsewhere, materials stocks were the worst performers, with Freeport-McMoRan falling 4.2% after posting a year-over-year decline in results. Albemarle tumbled 10% as Chile said it would nationalize its lithium industry.
While companies broadly beat expectations this week, overall profit reports failed to boost stocks, with some investors fearing an earnings drop looms with a likely recession ahead.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury hesitated, raising yields to 3.57% from Thursday’s 3.54%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices regained 41 cents to $77.78 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices slid $25.80 to $1,993.30 U.S. an ounce.